Cohen pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s; he did not launch a music career until 1967, at the age of 33. His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), was followed by three more albums of folk music: Songs from a Room (1969), Songs of Love and Hate (1971) and New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974). His 1977 record Death of a Ladies' Man, co-written and produced by Phil Spector, was a move away from Cohen's previous minimalist sound. In 1979, Cohen returned with the more traditional Recent Songs, which blended his acoustic style with jazz, Oriental, and Mediterranean influences. Perhaps Cohen's most famous song, "Hallelujah", was first released on his studio album Various Positions in 1984. I'm Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen's turn to synthesized productions and remains his most popular album. In 1992, Cohen released its follow-up, The Future, which had dark lyrics and references to political and social unrest.
Cohen returned to music in 2001 with the release of Ten New Songs, which was a major hit in Canada and Europe. His 11th album, Dear Heather, followed in 2004. Following a successful string of tours between 2008 and 2013, Cohen released three albums in the final four years of his life: Old Ideas (2012), Popular Problems (2014) and You Want It Darker (2016), the last of which was released three weeks before his death.
Leonard Cohen was born into a middle-class Jewish family in Westmount, Quebec, on September 21, 1934. His Lithuanian mother, Marsha Klonitsky ("Masha"; 1905–1978), was the daughter of a Talmudic writer, Rabbi Solomon Klonitsky-Kline, and emigrated to Canada in 1927. His paternal grandfather, whose family had moved from Poland to Canada, was Lyon Cohen, the founding president of the Canadian Jewish Congress. His father, Nathan Bernard Cohen (1891–1943), who owned a substantial clothing store, died when Cohen was nine years old. The family observed Orthodox Judaism, and belonged to Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, to which Cohen retained connections for the rest of his life. On the topic of being a Kohen, Cohen told Richard Goldstein in 1967, "I had a very Messianic childhood. I was told I was a descendant of Aaron, the high priest."
Cohen attended Roslyn Elementary School and completed grades seven through nine at Herzliah High School, where his literary mentor Irving Layton taught, then transferred in 1948 to Westmount High School, where he studied music and poetry. He became especially interested in the poetry of Federico García Lorca. Cohen involved himself actively beyond Westmount's curriculum, in photography, on the yearbook staff, as a cheerleader, in the arts and current events clubs, and even served in the position of president of the Students' Council while "heavily involved in the school's theater program". During that time, Cohen taught himself to play the acoustic guitar, and formed a country–folk group that he called the Buckskin Boys. After a young Spanish guitar player taught him "a few chords and some flamenco", Cohen switched to a classical guitar. He has attributed his love of music to his mother, who sang songs around the house: "I know that those changes, those melodies, touched me very much. She would sing with us when I took my guitar to a restaurant with some friends; my mother would come, and we'd often sing all night.
Cohen frequented Saint Laurent Boulevard for fun and ate at such places as the Main Deli Steak House. According to journalist David Sax, Cohen and one of his cousins would go to the Main Deli to "watch the gangsters, pimps, and wrestlers dance around the night". Cohen enjoyed the formerly raucous bars of Old Montreal as well as Saint Joseph's Oratory, which had the restaurant nearest to Westmount, for him and his friend Mort Rosengarten to share coffee and cigarettes. When Cohen left Westmount, he purchased a place on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, in the previously working-class neighbourhood of Little Portugal. He would read his poetry at assorted nearby clubs. In that period and that place, Cohen wrote the lyrics to some of his most famous songs.
Why Don't You Try
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you try to live alone?
Do you really need his hands for your passion?
Do you really need his heart for your throne?
Do you need his labour for your baby?
Do you need his beast for the bone?
Do you need to hold a leash to be a lady?
I know you're going to make, make it on your own
Just open up your dainty little hand
You know this life is filled with many sweet companions
Many satisfying one-night stands
Do you want to be the ditch around a tower?
Do you want to be the moonlight in his cave?
Do you want to give your blessing to his power
As he goes whistling past his daddy, past his daddy's grave
I'd like to take you take you to the ceremony
Well, that is if I remember the way
You see Jack and Jill they're going to join their misery
I'm afraid it's time for everyone to pray
You can see they've finally taken cover
They're willing, yeah they're willing to obey
Their vows are difficult, they're for each other
So let nobody put a loophole, a loophole in their way
In Leonard Cohen's "Why Don't You Try", Cohen speaks to a woman who is struggling to let go of a man who is no longer in her life. He asks her if she needs him for her passion, heart, or baby, and whether she needs to hold a leash to be a lady. He reminds her that she can make it on her own and encourages her to forget him and open her hand to life's many sweet companions. He questions whether she wants to be the ditch around a tower, the moonlight in his cave, or give her blessing to his power, indicating that being with someone who doesn't truly love you is a form of imprisonment.
Cohen then invites the woman to a ceremony, where Jack and Jill are getting married. He notes that they have taken cover and are now willing to obey their vows to each other. He reminds the listener that true love requires difficult vows, and warns people not to try to find loopholes in these vows.
The song is a classic Cohen track, with melancholic and poetic lyrics that explore the human condition. It speaks to the pain and difficulty of letting go of someone we love, as well as the importance of being true to ourselves and finding our own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you try to do without him?
Why not attempt living without his presence?
Why don't you try to live alone?
Have you considered living an independent life?
Do you really need his hands for your passion?
Are his hands integral to fulfilling your desires?
Do you really need his heart for your throne?
Does his affection make you feel more powerful?
Do you need his labour for your baby?
Is his contribution necessary in raising your child?
Do you need his beast for the bone?
Is his roughness a requirement for your satisfaction?
Do you need to hold a leash to be a lady?
Do you believe that submission is necessary to be considered a proper woman?
I know you're going to make, make it on your own
I have faith that you'll succeed independently.
Why don't your try to forget him?
Have you attempted to erase him from your memory?
Just open up your dainty little hand
Release your grip on him, let him go.
You know this life is filled with many sweet companions
There are plenty of potential lovers out there for you.
Many satisfying one-night stands
You can find fulfillment in casual relationships.
Do you want to be the ditch around a tower?
Is it preferable to be the surrounding inferior component to his superior position?
Do you want to be the moonlight in his cave?
Do you aspire to only exist in his world as an outsider who stays in the shadows?
Do you want to give your blessing to his power
Is it your desire to support his position of authority?
As he goes whistling past his daddy, past his daddy's grave
As he moves forward without regard for his past, for his father's memory.
I'd like to take you take you to the ceremony
I would like to accompany you to the event.
Well, that is if I remember the way
Assuming I can find my way there.
You see Jack and Jill they're going to join their misery
Jack and Jill plan to marry despite their issues.
I'm afraid it's time for everyone to pray
It's time for the ceremony to begin, and for everyone to offer their prayers.
You can see they've finally taken cover
Jack and Jill have finally committed to each other.
They're willing, yeah they're willing to obey
Both individuals are willing to submit to each other.
Their vows are difficult, they're for each other
Their promises to each other aren't simple, but they're important.
So let nobody put a loophole, a loophole in their way
Don't let anyone interfere with their commitment to each other.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Madebyme
Why don't you try to do without him?
Why don't you try to live alone?
Do you really need his hands for your passion?
Do you really need his heart for your throne?
Do you need his labor for your baby?
Do you need his beast for the bone?
Do you need to hold a leash to be a lady?
I know you're gonna make it, make it on your own
Why don't you try to forget him?
Just open up your dainty little hand
You know this life is filled with many sweet companions
Many satisfying one-night stands
Do you want to be the ditch around a tower?
Do you want to be the moonlight in his cave?
Do you want to give your blessing to his power
As he goes whistlin' past his daddy, past his daddy's grave?
I'd like to take you to the ceremony
Well, that is if I remember the way
You see Jack and Jill, they're gotta join their misery
And I'm afraid it's time for everyone to pray
You can see they've finally taken cover
They're willing, yeah they're willing to obey
Their vows are difficult, they're for each other
So let nobody put a loophole, a loophole in their way
Promit Kundu
Leonard Cohen is a bliss. So pure as the first sunlight's ray.
Manuela Cardona
Toda mi vida a mi lado señor Cohen. Tengo todos sus discos. Es un verdadero placer seguir sintiéndome acompañada. Gracias. Siempre en mi corazón
LUCIA HELENA DE MELO
A canção me enleva, inspira e aflora em mim, muita sensibilidade. Descansa e trás paz ao espirito. Adorável! Agradeço lhe, sua voz agradável. Obrigada Leonard Cohen.
danny neville
Great album from a legend.. diamond 💎💎..RIP
Talita
Encantada♥️🦋
Aniger Figueiredo
Leonard Cohen, I really miss you! Brighten the Skype with your magnificent songs. ✨✨✨
Madebyme
Why don't you try to do without him?
Why don't you try to live alone?
Do you really need his hands for your passion?
Do you really need his heart for your throne?
Do you need his labor for your baby?
Do you need his beast for the bone?
Do you need to hold a leash to be a lady?
I know you're gonna make it, make it on your own
Why don't you try to forget him?
Just open up your dainty little hand
You know this life is filled with many sweet companions
Many satisfying one-night stands
Do you want to be the ditch around a tower?
Do you want to be the moonlight in his cave?
Do you want to give your blessing to his power
As he goes whistlin' past his daddy, past his daddy's grave?
I'd like to take you to the ceremony
Well, that is if I remember the way
You see Jack and Jill, they're gotta join their misery
And I'm afraid it's time for everyone to pray
You can see they've finally taken cover
They're willing, yeah they're willing to obey
Their vows are difficult, they're for each other
So let nobody put a loophole, a loophole in their way
Barry Wyman
Best album he ever did 🤗
Mawa Ndar
Superbe chanson 💌
Ivaneia Rocatelli
👏👏👏👏🇧🇷